Im also in zone 9, although in a colder spot (San Joaquin Valley). I have been working on my front and back yards with the ultimate goal of creating a very low-maintenance landscape. You can see my progress so far in the Cacti and Succulents forum. I included the link below. Good luck! Josh Here is a link that might be useful: Succulent Garden Progress

You really need to post some pics that show the context and situated and conditions(if have,include drainage irrigation)(They are not too close up.a panoramic shot is good). first upload photo to any photo-hosting site.Photobucket and Flickr are examples . While at that photo on the site, look for a link to "share." Then look for a way of obtaining "html code" (don't select the thumbnail version.) Copy that code and paste it directly into your message here. You should tell me that sun light time(or where face?) I know you are from Georgia.

I'd make that strip between the driveway and the sidewalk walkable somehow- I'd put pavers or bricks or concrete or something there. A smooth walkway between the two areas is good when carrying groceries or just walking- you don't need to be wondering where to step in your front parking/walking zone. And mowing, edging, and weedeating a strip like that is ridiculous. I'd extend that surface to the space where the front entrance area/front porch should be because now there isn't one. It looks as if you step right out of the house onto lawn- there's not what we used to call a "goodnight" zone. I'd take that zone down to at least where the little crosswalk thing is. Then you could have some seating and nice large pots of things to soften the expanse of brick between the door and the window. I would change out that wrought iron support post to something more contemporary. If the tree is sentimental, perhaps it could be thinned so the house is still visible behind it instead of blob of green. Until we know the species I guess we can't decide on that. Then it's just a matter of edging the hardscape with a border of some sort- size and plants depending on your interest and time available. If you loooove gardening the border could become a bed encompassing the tree itself which would simplify mowing tremendously. Why are there no shutters on the one upstairs window? One of these things is not like the others, LOL.

If you want beds at the end of the driveway, make them large enough to fit the shrubs you plan to plant there (kept low enough to see over, for safety) and think about the shape of the adjacent lawn rather than the shape of the beds. In particular, pay attention to how you will mow along the edge of the beds without leaving awkward corners or bits that have to be trimmed by hand. Think of the position and placement of the tree and any shrub plantings in relation to the house. You want to use them to enhance the appearance of the house, while using them to make the transition from tall house to flat lawn seem less abrupt. Make the house "nestle" into the lot. You don't neccesarily need beds out at the end of the driveway, and may be planning them because other people have them, but without a real purpose. They do "dress up" the driveway entrance, but you want to call attention to the house/entry, not the driveway. Unless your border continues up the driveway on the right side and curves around to lead you and your eye to the entry, it only distracts from the house. As they are, they are too small to make a "grand entrance" and may only serve to increase your maintenance chores. If you use the juniper to hide your trash cans, try to use a couple more elsewhere in the planting plan. A one-off plant can tend to call attention to itself, defeating your purpose.